Municipality not serious about water distribution losses
When there is no water, no matter how much money you have or don’t have, it won’t be there.
The total water demand for eMalahleni is 148 megalitres per day to secure constant water supply to its community.
However the supply is rapidly dwindling due to the mushrooming of the population, a water reclamation plant that can’t keep and the quality of water for the problem.
Currently the demand for this life giving commodity exceeds the supply with 40 megalitres as only 108 megalitres are available on any given day.
Late last year the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Emalahleni Local Municipality embarked on an intensive water conservation roadshow in the municipality to engage, educate and create awareness on the importance of water conservation and wise use to reduce water losses and ensure security of supply.
The awareness roadshow took place on November 21 and covered communities in Ga-Nala, Phola and eMalahleni.
The roadshow was part of the implementation of the resolutions of the Emalahleni Water Summit that took place in September to create awareness and encourage communities to conserve and use water sparingly and wisely to reduce the water losses experienced in the municipality.
The Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Councillor Linah Malatjie called on the community to work with the municipality to reduce the water losses.
“In Emalahleni we are experiencing water losses of about 40%. This means that if we have 100 litres of water, 40 litres are lost and this tells us that a lot of precious water is lost and this has financial value. Let us attend to leaking taps and pipes as a lot of water is lost through these leaks that we normally take for granted. Let us attend to the water losses,” she said.
On the backdrop of this statement there is an undercurrent of concern that the municipality is not doing enough to conserve water.
The municipality’s lack of attention to water leaks is voiced by many residents.
One of many examples is a leaking water meter that was reported in September last year in Libertas Street.
“We are constantly phoning in to report the leaking water meter. We have copied several role players within the municipality in the numerous messages we send to report the meter. Up to this day nothing has been done to fix the meter,” said Mr Colin Goldswain.
Because of the water streaming out the water meter his neatly kept pavement leading to his garage has turned into a swamp.
“It is difficult to drive in and out of the driveway because of the muddy and slippery mess.”
Water is a finite resource.
When there is no water, no matter how much money you have or don’t have, it won’t be there.
The municipality was asked what the turnaround time is when a leaking water meter is reported; they however did not respond to the query by the time going to press.
